Salty remarks: NYC subway ads warn about sodium

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City subway riders have been cautioned about smoking, sugar and teen pregnancy. Now they're getting a new message: Pass on the salt.

The city Department of Health launched an ad campaign Monday urging passengers to scrutinize the salt in packaged foods. It shows two loaves of bread, zooms in on the "sodium" line in their nutrition labels and warns "too much salt can lead to heart attack and stroke."

The city has pressed food manufacturers to reduce salt. Other healthy-eating campaigns and regulations during Mayor Michael Bloomberg's tenure have targeted artificial trans fats, sugary drinks and smoking.

Sodium increases the risk of high blood pressure, a major cause of heart disease and stroke.

There has been some scientific debate in recent years over how dangerous dietary salt is.